Rian was the first character I ever came up with, and I reuse him frequently. He's a warrior-scholar, an archeologist who can swing a sword with best of them, essentially Indiana Jones mixed with Aragorn. His background changes whenever I reuse him, but these and his loyalty to his friends are his biggest defining traits. The Swordmage helps me with the "highly intelligent blademaster" feel I'm looking for, so here he is:
Level 1 Snapshot
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Rian Masu
Human Swordmage Lv. 1
Ability Scores:
STR: 13 (+1)
CON: 15 (+2)
DEX: 10 (+0)
INT: 16 (+3)
WIS: 15 (+2)
CHA: 8 (-1)
Defenses:
AC: 18
FORT: 13
REF: 14
WILL: 15
Hit Points:
Full: 30
Bloodied: 15
Healing Surge Value: 7
# of Surges/day: 10
Powers:
At-Will: Booming Blade, Greenflame Blade, Lightning Lure
Encounter: Foesnare
Daily: Frost Backlash
Feats
Weapon Proficiency: Bastard Sword
Intelligent Blademaster
Details:
Skills: Arcana, History, Insight, Diplomacy, Endurance
Class Features: Swordbond, Swordmage Aegis (Aegis of Shielding), Swordmage Warding
Items: Bastard Sword, Leather Armor
So, most of what you see with Rian is background. He's a swordsman through and through, which is why he knows Booming Blade (for use against single enemies) and Greenflame Blade (for use against multiple enemies). Lightning Lure is there because he needs a 3rd at will, and it gives him an option when an enemy is just out of his blade's length. Foesnare locks down an enemy he wants to stay put, and Frost Backlash is an immediate interrupt that can be lifesaving.
His feat choices shouldn't be surprising. Intelligent Blademaster is pretty much a must-have feat for any Swordmage, and Weapon Proficiency (Bastard Sword) is there so he can use the best 1-handed sword effectively.
Level 2
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Rian's Utility power for this level is Dimensional Warp, held in reserve for when the striker gets in over his head. He also gets another feat, which goes to Armor Proficiency (Hide), which is pretty much the best armor a Swordmage can use.
Level 3
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Transposing Lunge is one of the best low-level Swordmage powers, period. ESPECIALLY foe Sheilding Swordmages, which Rian happens to be.
Level 4
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Rian boosts his INT and his CON, and gets another feat. He gets Action Surge, because he's a "pitiful" human.
Level 5
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Rian learns Deep Freeze at this level. It's the sort of power he'll use when there are lots of minions around, for the autodamage, of course.
Level 6
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Rian gets the Armathor's Step Utility Power. It's teleportation and an attack bonus. 'Nuff said. Rian's feat this level will be Weapon Focus (Heavy Blades), because... well, you know why, I think.
Level 7
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Rian gets to learn another encounter power. This time it will be Isolating Slam, which helps with battlefield control. Not the greatest power ever, but it works.
Level 8
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Rian's INT and WIS go up this level, and he gets another feat, which is Retributive Shield. You won't like him when he's angry
Level 9
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Glamor Blade is good, but kind of weird, and doesn't fit my image of Rian, so this level he learns Be Gone. A good combo would be to mark a target then send them flying away with this power. Or use it to save the squishies. Either is good.
Level 10
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Rian's Utility Power at this level is Impenetrable Warding. Bonus to all defenses? Yes please! His feat this level is Toughness, to make him... well... tougher, I guess...
Level 11 Snapshot
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Rian Masu
Human Swordmage/that Wanders Lv. 11
Ability Scores:
STR: 14 (+2)
CON: 17 (+3)
DEX: 11 (+0)
INT: 19 (+4)
WIS: 17 (+3)
CHA: 9 (-1)
Defenses:
AC: 29
FORT: 22
REF: 23
WILL: 24
Hit Points:
Full: 102
Bloodied: 51
Healing Surge Value: 25
# of Surges/day: 11
Powers:
At-Will: Booming Blade, Greenflame Blade, Lightning Lure
Encounter: Foesnare, Transposing Lunge, Isolating Slam, Four Corners Attack
Daily: Frost Backlash, Deep Freeze, Be Gone
Utility: Dimensional Warp, Armathor's Step, Impenetrable Warding
Feats
Weapon Proficiency: Bastard Sword
Intelligent Blademaster
Armor Proficiency (Hide)
Action Surge
Weapon Focus (Heavy Blades)
Retributive Shield
Toughness
Armor Specialization (Hide)
Details:
Skills: Arcana, History, Insight, Diplomacy, Endurance
Class Features: Swordbond, Swordmage Aegis (Aegis of Shielding), Swordmage Warding
Paragon Path Features: Aegis Insight, People's History, Teleportation Action
Items: +3 Bastard Sword, +3 Hide Armor, +3 Amulet of Protection
Rian is now a Paragon Adventurer! His love of the estoric and ancient leads him to many places, and he can be thus called a Wandering Swordmage. As a Wandering Swordmage, he can add his Wisdom Modifier to his history checks with People's History (which is actually what drew me to the class, initially), and he also gets the ability to teleport as a free action whenever he spends an action point, with the aptly named Teleportation Action. But perhaps the most awesome feature of a Wandering Swordmage is their Aegis Insight, which increases their marking range by their Wisdom modifier. Currently, Rian can mark an enemy within 5 squares of him.
His encounter power learned as a Wandering Swordmage is Four Corners Attack, which allows him to add a secondary effect onto the initial attack based on which defense he targets, which allows you to adapt the attack to your particular foe. He also gets another feat, which is going to be Armor Specialization (Hide). Extra AC is always a good thing. Oh, and Rian's abilities are also all boosted by 1. Just thought I'd throw that in there.
Level 12
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Rian learns the Arcane Tanglestep Utility Spell, which allows him to teleport himself and a marked enemy to a separate part of the battlefield if the enemy hits an ally of his. Speaking of Marking, Rian's feat this level is going to be Double Aegis, which allows him to mark 2 targets with his Aegis of Shielding. He can still only make one immediate action a turn, but two enemies who are marked until he says they're not marked anymore. Dang.
Level 13
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Rian learns the Seed of Fire Arcane attack this level, losing Foesnare in the process. It's a nice power, damaging multiple foes, and since Rian is a Shielding Swordmage, the attack ignores allies.
Level 14
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Rian boosts his INT and CON this level. He also gets another feat, which is Durable. Extra Healing Surges are always a good thing.
Level 15
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Rian loses Be Gone (Frost Backlash and Deep Freeze are still good), and learns Acid For Blood, which hurts and deals ongoing damage.
Level 16
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Rian gets the Wandering Swordmage feature, Learn from Experience. It's the kind of feature that Rian doesn't want to use, but it's there when he needs it. He also gets the Sudden Escape spell, which teleports him out of danger before he would be hit. In addition to all those, he gets the Wintertouched feat. He has a lot of cold attacks: might as well make them work for him. Yeah, Level 16 is pretty sweet.
Level 17
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Rian loses Isolating Slam, and gets Ice Cage, which punishes an enemy for attacking on its turn. How dare it try to hurt someone hurting it!
Level 18
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Rian boosts his INT and WIS again. He also gets the Human Perseverance feat, to help out his saving throws.
Level 19
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Rian loses Deep Freeze, and gets Bane Blade, which deals damage and allows him to lay even more hurt on that same enemy for the rest of the encounter.
Level 20
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Rian gets the Wandering Swordmage capstone power Heritage of Blades, and what a power it is! Allies near Rian get a bonus to defenses, and a lucky enemy near Rian gets automatic force damage to the face as long as Rian stays in the stance. Rian also gets another feat: Stubborn Survivor grants Rian another saving throw bonus that pops up when he has no action points remaining.
Level 21 Snapshot
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Rian Masu
Human Swordmage/Wandering Swordmage/Demigod Lv. 21
Ability Scores:
STR: 15 (+2)
CON: 21 (+5)
DEX: 12 (+1)
INT: 24 (+7)
WIS: 19 (+4)
CHA: 10 (+0)
Defenses:
AC: 38
FORT: 31
REF: 32
WILL: 32
Hit Points:
Full: 171
Bloodied: 85
Healing Surge Value: 42
# of Surges/day: 15
Powers:
At-Will: Booming Blade, Greenflame Blade, Lightning Lure
Encounter: Seed of Fire, Transposing Lunge, Ice Cage, Four Corners Attack
Daily: Frost Backlash, Bane Blade, Acid for Blood, Heritage of Blades
Utility: Dimensional Warp, Armathor's Step, Impenetrable Warding, Arcane Tanglestep, Sudden Escape
Feats
Weapon Proficiency: Bastard Sword
Intelligent Blademaster
Armor Proficiency (Hide)
Action Surge
Weapon Focus (Heavy Blades)
Retributive Shield
Toughness
Armor Specialization (Hide)
[s]Double Aegis Total Aegis
Durable
Wintertouched
Human Perseverance
Stubborn Survivor
Blind-Fight
Details:
Skills: Arcana, History, Insight, Diplomacy, Endurance
Class Features: Swordbond, Swordmage Aegis (Aegis of Shielding), Swordmage Warding
Paragon Path Features: Aegis Insight, People's History, Teleportation Action, Learn from Experience
Epic Destiny Features: Divine Spark
Items: +5 Bastard Sword, +5 Darkhide Armor, +5 Amulet of Protection
Rian's skill is so legendary, people are now calling him a god among men. That's right, Epic Tier! Rian is going with the Demigod Epic Destiny, and by doing so he is allowed to boost his INT and CON two extra points each because of Divine Spark. So helpful!
Rian also gets another feat, which is going to be Blind-Fight. Rian is a up-close swordsman, and the ability to get through concealment and invisibility will be invaluable. He also retrains his Double Aegis power, and it becomes Total Aegis, which allows him to mark EVERY enemy in his Aegis range. Combined with the Wandering Swordmage feature he's had since Paragon... yeah, it's good.
Level 22
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Rian gets the Eyes of the Mage Utility spell, which allows him to see hidden and invisble enemies from far away, and not just up-close along with a Perception bonus. He can expend these benefits to force an enemy to reroll an attack against him or an ally. He also gets another feat. Irresistible Flame will do nicely for now.
Level 23
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Rian loses Transposing Lunge, and learns Thunder Riposte, which he can use to knock adjacent enemies prone when they hit him. He can also use it when an ally is hurt.
Level 24
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Rian boosts his INT and CON, and gets the Solid Sound feat. Extra defenses always help! He also gets the Demigod feature Divine Recovery, because dying is a very bad thing.
Level 25
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Rian loses Frost Backlash, and learns Icy Shackles, which deals damage and punishes an enemy for even trying to move.
Level 26
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At level 26, Rian gains the Demigod Utility power Divine Regeneration. The name says it all. He also gets another feat, which will be Epic Resurgence. It will help Rian get encounter powers back for now.
Level 27
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Rian loses Seed of Fire, and learns Dimensional Charge. Because sometimes, you just got to hit that sucker for all you're worth.
Level 28
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Rian ups his INT and WIS one last time. He also gets the Great Fortitude feat. A little extra defense can go a long way.
Level 29
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Rian learns Astral Thunder Blade. Solid damage to one enemy? Check. Damage to other enemies as well? Check. Stunning every enemy hit by the secondary attack? Check. It's all good. He loses Acid for Blood to learn it.
Level 30 Snapshot
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Rian Masu
Human Swordmage/Wandering Swordmage/Demigod Lv. 30
Ability Scores:
STR: 15 (+2)
CON: 22 (+6)
DEX: 12 (+1)
INT: 26 (+8)
WIS: 20 (+5)
CHA: 10 (+0)
Defenses:
AC: 47
FORT: 40
REF: 42
WILL: 41
Hit Points:
Full: 226
Bloodied: 113
Healing Surge Value: 56
# of Surges/day: 16
Powers:
At-Will: Booming Blade, Greenflame Blade, Lightning Lure
Encounter: Dimensional Charge, Thunder Riposte, Ice Cage, Four Corners Attack
Daily: Icy Shackles, Bane Blade, Astral Thunder Blade, Heritage of Blades
Utility: Dimensional Warp, Armathor's Step, Impenetrable Warding, Arcane Tanglestep, Sudden Escape, Eyes of the Mage, Divine Regeneration
Feats
Weapon Proficiency: Bastard Sword
Intelligent Blademaster
Armor Proficiency (Hide)
Action Surge
Weapon Focus (Heavy Blades)
Retributive Shield
Toughness
Armor Specialization (Hide)
[s]Double Aegis Total Aegis
Durable
Wintertouched
Human Perseverance
Stubborn Survivor
Blind-Fight
Irresistible Flame
Solid Sound
[s]Epic Resurgence Lightning Reflexes
Great Fortitude
Iron Will
Details:
Skills: Arcana, History, Insight, Diplomacy, Endurance
Class Features: Swordbond, Swordmage Aegis (Aegis of Shielding), Swordmage Warding
Paragon Path Features: Aegis Insight, People's History, Teleportation Action, Learn from Experience
Epic Destiny Features: Divine Spark, Divine Recovery, Divine Miracle
Items: +6 Bastard Sword, +6 Elderhide Armor, +6 Amulet of Protection
Rian is nearing the end of his adventuring days. He gets the final Demigod feature, Divine Miracle, which basically means he'll never have to use an At-Will power again. This makes Epic Resurgence useless, so he retrains it to Lightning Reflexes, and learns Iron Will as well, to round out his defenses.
And there he is!
